5-Day Orkney and Scotland's Northern Coast Tour from Edinburgh: Glencoe, Loch Ness, Inverness, Kirkwall and Ullapool

(1 Reviews)
Product Code: 12657

OVERVIEW

Highlights

    • The archipelago of Orkney hides many treasures: and on our five day tour, your experienced guide will ensure you find the best of them
    • You'll unearth some of the most well-preserved prehistoric sites in Europe, examine a beautiful red sandstone coast, and discover the vibrant culture of remote island communities
    • You'll also have a chance to find the Loch Ness Monster, see Scotland's beautiful north, and learn about the tragedy of Glencoe
    • It's an experience you'll treasure for a lifetime
    • You can relax in the comfortable seats inside a Mercedes 16-seat mini-coach
    • Admire the full landscape wherever you travel thanks to large windows
    • Travel responsibly: our buses are better for the environment than using your own car
    • Hear the local stories and legends from our driver-guides who know places like the back of their hand
    • Go past the landmarks and visit lesser-known locations only locals know about
Tour Code
12657
Duration
5 day
Departure City
Edinburgh
End City
Edinburgh
Language
English

IS THIS TOUR FOR ME?

Tour Themes: Cultural & Historical

Learn about history and local culture with in-depth tours and activities

Tour Type: Driver Guide Tour

Driver Guide Tours

Group Size: Small group tour

Take an intimate and semi-private trip with a small group

Itinerary

Day 01
Edinburgh

Edinburgh - Glencoe - Loch Ness - Inverness

Hotel: B&B (Bed & Breakfast) or similar

Meal: B:Excluded L:Excluded D:Excluded

Leave Edinburgh and head west past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. You pass Doune Castle before stopping in the small town of Callander for a refreshment. After crossing the Fault Line into the magnificent Highlands, you take in the splendour of Loch Lubnaig, Loch Earn, Glen Ogle, and Glen Dochart.

You admire spectacular views and listen to a haunting story in Glencoe before you continue north up the Great Glen to the mysterious beauty of Loch Ness.

The loch is 23 miles long and you have plenty of time to try and spot the monster.

You arrive at Inverness, where you're dropped off at your booked accommodation. The evening is free for you to explore the 'Capital of the Highlands'.

Visiting Attractions

  • Stirling Castle Stirling Castle
  • National Wallace Monument National Wallace Monument
  • Doune Castle Doune Castle
  • Glencoe Glencoe
  • Loch Ness Loch Ness

Meal

  • B:Excluded
  • L:Excluded
  • D:Excluded
Day 02
Kirkwall

Inverness - John o’ Groats - Kirkwall

Hotel: B&B (Bed & Breakfast) or similar

Meal: B:Excluded L:Excluded D:Excluded

It's an early start, leaving behind the 'Capital of the Highlands', crossing over the Black Isle, and continuing past Dunrobin Castle.

From here, you drive along the northeast Highland coastline, travelling into some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery.

Onwards through Scotland's most northerly mainland village, John o' Groats, and then to Gills Bay, where you board the ferry, and cross the Pentland Firth into the Orkney Archipelago.

It's a short drive to the famous Italian Chapel where you stop for a visit before continuing to the Viking stronghold of Kirkwall, Capital of Orkney. Here you can visit Kirkwall's magnificent Viking Cathedral and enjoy its historic winding streets in the evening.

* Ferry timetables vary depending on the season. Due to this, a visit to John o'Groats may not be possible.

Visiting Attractions

  • John O'Groats John O'Groats

Meal

  • B:Excluded
  • L:Excluded
  • D:Excluded
Day 03
Kirkwall

Kirkwall - Skara Brae - Maeshowe - Kirkwall

Hotel: B&B (Bed & Breakfast) or similar

Meal: B:Excluded L:Excluded D:Excluded

Today is your chance to explore this archipelago's fertile green pastures, fringed by shores of golden sands and washed by waters of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

You visit the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae, the mystical prehistoric stone circle at Brodgar, and the Druidic standing stones of Stenness.

You then travel onto Maeshowe, where in the 12th century the Vikings left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions.

Then it's back to Kirkwall for your second night after what is sure to be a memorable day.

Visiting Attractions

  • Skara Brae Skara Brae
  • Maeshowe Maeshowe

Meal

  • B:Excluded
  • L:Excluded
  • D:Excluded
Day 04
Ullapool

Kirkwall - Assynt - Ullapool

Hotel: B&B (Bed & Breakfast) or similar

Meal: B:Excluded L:Excluded D:Excluded

After a relaxed start, you leave Orkney and sail the Viking waters back to the mainland. From here, you travel the old road right across the very top of Scotland, driving past the stunning Ben Loyal and Ben Hope mountains, following the rocky cliffs and stunning golden sand beaches.

You then visit the far northwest Highlands and the wilderness of the mountains of Assynt before stopping to view the 15th-century ruins of Ardvreck Castle.

From here, you travel to Ullapool, situated at the mouth of Loch Broom, a beautiful whitewashed fishing village where you spend your last night's stay on tour.

* Ferry timetables vary depending on the season. Due to this, passengers may have less time in Kirkwall in the morning as the ferry departs earlier.

Visiting Attractions

  • Ardvreck Castle Ardvreck Castle

Meal

  • B:Excluded
  • L:Excluded
  • D:Excluded
Day 05
Edinburgh

Ullapool - Culloden - Edinburgh

Meal: B:Excluded L:Excluded D:Excluded

Leaving Ullapool behind, you take in the drama of the River Droma as it plunges 60m down into Corrieshalloch Gorge. You then admire the beautiful Loch Glascarnoch, on the way past the 'Capital of the Highlands', Inverness.

You can visit Culloden Moor, the site of The Battle of Culloden in 1746, one of the bloodiest events in our history and the last battle to have been fought on the British mainland. Next, you take a short drive to the ancient standing stones at Clava Cairns, made famous by Diana Gabaldon in the 'Outlander' books.

From here, you travel through the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest, hugging the Cairngorm mountain range. You enjoy lunch in these beautiful surroundings before travelling through The Big Tree country of Perthshire, the Kingdom of Fife, and back to Edinburgh.

Meal

  • B:Excluded
  • L:Excluded
  • D:Excluded

Pick-up Details / Transfers

Starts
Check-in closes at 8:15am (tour departs at 8:30am)
Gate J and Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ
Finishes (approx.)
19:00pm
Edinburgh Bus Station Drop Off, George St / St. Andrews Square area, within 5 mins of Edinburgh Bus Station, Edinburgh

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Package Includes

    • 4-night accommodation
    • Transport in a Mercedes 16-seat mini-coach
    • Air conditioning as standard
    • The stories and services of an English-speaking driver guide
    • Admission to Maeshowe
    • Admission to Skara Brae
    • Admission to Culloden Museum and Battlefield

Package Excludes

    • Airfares or related transportation between your home and departure city
    • All personal expenses including hotel room service and meals
    • Entrance fees & optional tours (Prices vary from season to season; only the price at the ticket booth / box office is final)

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation made within:

  • 0 - 23 Days Prior to Departure Date - Non-refundable
  • 24 or More Days - 90% of total purchase amount can be refunded
Please Note:
• Cancellations made 24 days and more before the tour date may also incur the cost of one night's accommodation for each separate accommodation booked.

Special Notes

    • We regret we don't carry children under the age of 5 years old on our scheduled tours.
    • If your child is less that 1.35m tall, please let us know and we will provide a suitable booster seat.
    • Children under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult.
    • Luggage: You're restricted to 20kg (44lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.
    • We accept bookings for up to 8 passengers from any one party. This is to retain the integrity of the tour and ensure that all of our customers have the best possible experience, without being overwhelmed by one larger dominant group.
    • Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes.
    • We may be unable to provide named accommodation at the time of booking, however this should be available 72 hours prior to departure. Please contact us at this point for the names of the accommodation related to your booking.
    • FAQs:
      Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?
      - The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.
      Is there parking close to the departure point?
      - We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.
      When should I get to the departure point?
      - Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.
      What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?
      - If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.
      Can Itineraries change?
      - Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.
      Can I pre-book a specific seat?
      - Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.
      Are there toilets on the bus?
      - Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.
      How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?
      - We aim to accommodate everyone.
      How much time do I get off the bus?
      - We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.
      Why do you exclude visitor attractions?
      - We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.
      Do we need to bring our own lunch?
      - You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.
      Should I tip the driver-guide?
      - Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.
      What about travel insurance?
      - We advise you take out travel insurance.
      What is ABTOT?
      - You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt.
  • The time we mentioned in the itinerary is for reference only. Please refer to your guide on tour for the actual arrangement. The visiting order and duration might be changed according to actual and practical situation for better service.
  • This tour/activity is overseen by a select local operator in the region. Upon booking your tour or activity and after receiving confirmation, you will be issued an e-ticket detailing the local operator's name and contact information. If you require assistance finding a specific tour, please contact us for more information.

Pricing Info

Your reservation is always subject to confirmation by email, normally within one to two business days.

* Price for Single Occupancy applies when one person stays in one standard hotel room.
* Price for Double Occupancy applies when two people stay in one standard hotel room respectively.
* There are a choice of room types available in both B&B (Bed & Breakfast) and Hotel categories including single, double or twin rooms depending on number of guests and preference. Triple and family rooms are limited and may only be booked on request.
* Please note that any mutli-day tours including the Isle of Skye will only be available as B&B options.
* Please be aware that although we aim to provide accommodation in the centre of the locations where we stay overnight, due to the smaller size of some of these destinations, accommodation may on occasion be up to 2 miles/20-30 minute walk from the centre of the town. Note that If your party size is a larger group ( 5+ pax), or if the booking is close to departure date, we cannot guarantee that all travellers in a group will be in the same accommodation.
* Adult: 16+
* Child: 5-15, based on 1 child sharing a room with adult(s)/parent(s) or 2 children in a twin room. Please specify children's ages at the time of booking in order to assist in securing suitable accommodation for extended tours. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Where no child rate is shown, we are unable to take passengers under the age of 18 years old.

Reservation Info

    1.Immediately after submitting your reservation you will receive a Receipt of Reservation via email.
    2. Within one to two business days of submitting your reservation you will receive a status update email from us. If you need to book an airline ticket, we recommend that you do so after you receive a confirmation of your tour reservation from us.
    3. An E-Ticket will be sent to you via email as soon as details of your reservation are confirmed or your supporting information is received by us. We will provide you with all detailed information about your tour on the E-Ticket. Contact information for local tour provider will be included on E-Ticket for your convenience or re-confirmation purpose if re-confirmation is required.
    4. Simply print your E-Ticket and present it with your valid photo ID on the day of your activity to your tour guide. Please remember E-Ticket is your proof of purchase.

Terms and Conditions

    - Your purchase does not guarantee confirmation. Your purchase will initiate a reservation process. We will confirm with you via email within one to two business days.
    - Prices may vary due to availability. We reserve the right to make price adjustment without prior notice.
    - Please refer to our Standard Amendment, Cancellation and Refund Policy before you make reservation.
    - Please refer to Customer Agreement before you make reservation.
    - Local tour provider reserves the right to make modifications to tour arrangements including order of tour activities, hotel and its location if deemed necessary.

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    Conditional Cancellation
    This tour qualifies for: Free Cancellation 25 or more Days Prior to Departure
    • 16-24 Days Prior to Departure Date - 75% of total purchase amount can be refunded
    • 7-15 Days Prior to Departure Date - 50% of total purchase amount can be refunded
    • 6 Days Prior to Departure Date - Non-refundable
    All cancellations must be made directly with Tours4Fun, not with tour providers. The day mentioned above is based on the date we receive your signed Cancellation Request Form and travel service start date (departure date).
    • 0 - 23 Days Prior to Departure Date - Non-refundable
    • 24 or More Days - 90% of total purchase amount can be refunded
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